Prime Minister shows ‘strength under fire’

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard had shown her renowned ‘strength under fire’ in contesting the leadership of the Australian Labor Party this week, Federal member for Brand Gary Gray said today.

“Kevin Rudd’s challenge shone a light on some of the Prime Minister’s best attributes and what we’ve seen in the past couple of weeks is her intelligence, toughness and determination to not only provide good governance for government but the entire community,” Mr Gray said.

“Julia’s qualities have been apparent to many people in the ALP for the past 18 months, but haven’t been as obvious to the broad community.”

On Monday, Ms Gillard won a secret ballot 71 votes to Kevin Rudd’s 31 when MPs voted in Canberra.

Mr Rudd later confirmed that he intended to go to the backbench and would contest his seat of Griffith in Queensland at the next election.

“On Saturday at the Musselfest in Rockingham I listened to the views of hundreds of local residents, who were keen to impress upon me the need to get this matter behind us. I am pleased the matter is now dealt with.

“I know the amount of work we have to do as a government. It starts by knuckling down and telling people about things the government has already done – like the NBN beginning to be rolled out in Mandurah; the agreement only a fortnight ago on health insurance; laying the foundations for a national disability insurance scheme, and many more achievements.”

Mr Gray said the Gillard Government could proudly boast on running one of the world’s most successful economies.

“Julia Gillard is strong on governance and governing. But in some ways the fact that she never had to contest the leadership of the ALP in June 2010, when Kevin Rudd stood down without a ballot, meant the party never had the sort of debate we’ve had in recent weeks.

“That has happened. It’s now a matter of every Labor MP uniting and focussing on the task ahead.”